Erta Ale Ethiopian

Delicious and great prices! 4 adults split the Erta Ale Special. It was tasty and offered a variety of proteins and vegetables. We recommend ordering a tea. They bring a cute little tray.

The best! Excellent atmosphere, staff and food. Every single time. Please support this place! They’re doing us a favor by being there.

I am writing to recommend a delightful Ethiopian restaurant located in the downtown Saint Paul area. While the establishment offers a genuinely authentic dining experience, characterized by delicious food and the warm hospitality of its Ethiopian staff, I observed a potential area for improvement. The current staffing levels seem insufficient, particularly in the waitstaff area, leading to a potentially slower service experience. The restaurant's charming historic building adds to its unique atmosphere, though this also suggests the need for a review of operational capacity to ensure optimal customer service. I believe addressing the staffing concerns would significantly enhance the already enjoyable dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone appreciative of traditional Ethiopian cuisine and historical ambiance. Sincerely,

We came here after a long conference, craving authentic and delicious Ethiopian food. The menu had a good selection vegetarian options. The food was so flavorful and perfectly portioned. Plenty of injera for the table. Be sure to try everything, it’s worth it! 5 stars, highlight of our trip to St Paul.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Erta Ale Ethiopian! On walking in, the space feels very welcoming and warm with interesting wall art and a beautiful tea set display. The server was busy tending to a group so the bartender came and sat us and helped us. Everyone was very friendly and kind, and the food came out quite fast. We enjoyed most of the food very much- The sambusa had a great lentil filling but I especially enjoyed the shell which was super crispy but thick enough to also have some chew. All the food had wonderful flavor and different from other Ethiopian food we’ve tried, had more texture (wasn’t just mushy), which was pleasant. Would recommend and will come back next time we want Ethiopian!

Visited Erta Ale on a Monday evening, wasn't busy, got seated right away. Cool, laid-back atmosphere. Server was nice and knowledgeable, answered all our questions. My sister ordered the food so I forgot the name of the combo dish we got. The spices and flavors were on point, and the plate was huge. Four of us weren't able to finish it. Definitely worth giving it a try. FYI- metered street parking.

First time to the area with my wife and we wanted to try some food from East Africa. We just used Google and went to the highest recommended one per our Uber driver. Per me/my wife (us), go to this place! Very friendly and the food is amazing! Tasted fresh, looked good and we enjoyed it all. We had not really had Ethiopian food and now will be searching for local food of this quality. All the dishes in these photos were amazing! - Veggie Sambusa - Beef (non-spicy) Tibs - Gomen Be Siga Thank you!

I have visited Erta Ale restaurant several times with family, friends, and now with my wife. It has always been a wonderful experience all the time. As someone from Ethiopia, the atmosphere was warm and authentic, with traditional music and decor that truly reflected the culture I grew up. They also host jazz night and other tranquil artistic evening programs. If you enjoy jazz, art, and delicious Ethiopian food, I highly recommend this restaurant. It's also a great place for a date night.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Erta Ale Ethiopian! On walking in, the space feels very welcoming and warm with interesting wall art and a beautiful tea set display. The server was busy tending to a group so the bartender came and sat us and helped us. Everyone was very friendly and kind, and the food came out quite fast. We enjoyed most of the food very much- The sambusa had a great lentil filling but I especially enjoyed the shell which was super crispy but thick enough to also have some chew. All the food had wonderful flavor and different from other Ethiopian food we've tried, had more texture (wasn't just mushy), which was pleasant. Would recommend and will come back next time we want Ethiopian!

Located across the street from CHS Field & the Famers market Erta's may be somewhat in the cut but once inside the atmosphere is very welcoming. Traditional music playing at a comfortable level which adds to the whole vibe. The service was very good, quickly seated & brought beverages right away. Also, the staff was very helpful with any questions we might have had about menu items that were new to us. Although the stop was for a quick bite I was really surprised at how flavorful & tender my lamb ribs were & that garlic & herb butter that is dripping from every piece is REALLY good not taking anything away from the "Lega Tibs" which were very tasty as well. Definitely use the "Injera" bread to put everything together for the full flavor... Would definitely go again.

I have made an annual trip with my Wednesday night soccer team to an Ethiopian restaurant off Como in St Paul and recently on a trip to Florida my fiancé and I had some excellent Ethiopian food near Orlando so we were excited to try another spot even closer to home. The restaurant has a great spot near CHS field and a limited number of tables for 2 outside. Inside the space is cozy but as it was early on a weeknight we were the only ones in the restaurant. Service was excellent and our waitress allowed us to order the special but for just 2 instead of 4-5. Unfortunately the food was nowhere near as good as Bole or the place in Orlando. The injira was dry and the food lacked those wonderful deep African flavors. There just wasn't anything that wowed us other than the service being excellent!

I have never heard of this location before but was highly recommended. As we walked in we were greated and sat down. They came over and told us about the menu and explained a bunch of things. they mentioned a buffet and in order to try more of the food we did the buffet. The salad was fresh along with everything else. The one thing that was absolutely divine was the mushrooms. OMG I Have never tasted such flabours. They were not overcooked and had a hint of heat to them that gave a hot and sweat lingering taste. I washed it down with a nice proseco. The chef is amazing and she is very humble and charismatic. All the servers were amazing and made sure we had everything we needed... Then place itself is very cozy and gives that feeling of a family ran establishment. I hope to go back soon to try out the rest of the food. ALSO a word of warning... the food is very heavy and it fills you up very quickly.

The staff and ambiance were great! The food was really good. Even though it was busy they got to us right away.

I'm not an expert on Ethiopian food but I do love food! Erta Ale was excellent...highly recommend. Loved the vegan platter...so many different flavors to try and to combine. Food is so flavorful without being too spicy...service was great. Ambiance is nice and restaurant is well decorated. Will definitely return on future visits to the Twin Cities.

Erta Ale Ethiopian in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is an absolute gem of a restaurant that deserves every bit of praise. Their diverse and vibrant platters are nothing short of culinary masterpieces. The harmonious blend of tender meats and fresh, flavorful veggies created an unforgettable palate experience that's hard to find elsewhere. The homemade hot sauces deserve a special shout-out. The green one is simply sublime, packing a punch while not overpowering the food. And for those who enjoy a walk on the culinary wild side, do try the red sauce - it is an adventure in itself! Our host, Eden, truly elevated our dining experience. Ordering was as smooth as silk, thanks to his attentive and friendly service. It's rare to find such a wonderful mix of excellent food and warm hospitality. To cap off our delightful meal, we indulged in their Ethiopian coffee - a true essence of the country's rich tradition right there in our cup. As for the ambiance, it was inviting and comfortable, enhanced by the engaging table trivia that added a fun twist to the dining experience. Erta Ale Ethiopian is truly a must-visit spot for lovers of authentic Ethiopian cuisine or anyone seeking an excellent dining experience in Saint Paul. A word of advice: come with an appetite, and leave with a heart full of satisfaction and a longing to return!"

I saw on social media that Erta Ale has a veg lunch buffet on Saturdays so we headed over to try it. Unfortunately the buffet wasn't actually happening when we got there but the server informed me everything that's on the vegan platter is what was supposed to be on the buffet. The menu doesn't list it but our server asked us if we wanted the large vegan platter rather than two regular sized ones. Yes please! The large ended up being just the right amount of food for us, and we were able to get gluten free injira. Amazing! The outdoor seating is perfect for good dog & people watching nearby the St. Paul Farmers Market. Also, I love the straw umbrellas over the tables. We'll be back for sure.

Visiting from Pittsburgh, saw the restaurant on Yelp and wanted to give it a try. The night we landed we unfortunately didn't have enough time, but was able to grab lunch on our way out of Saint Paul I'm not much for ambience, but the restaurant was clean, stylish, and had several selections of art depicting volcanoes, which I believe is the namesake of the restaurant, Erta Ale being a volcano in Ethiopia This was our first time having Ethiopian food, and our server Emmanuelle (sp?) was very gracious and went above and beyond to help us understand the menu and how to eat the delicious food we ordered We ordered the coffee with our drinks, which was dark and rich and fruity We split our two entrees. The first was the quanta firfir -- a melange of sauteed peppers and onions with beef, spices, and injera pancakes, served within injera pancakes laid over top. The second was the bozena shiro, a chickpea puree with spices, ginger, garlic, and onions, which was flavorful and delicious when used as a dip for more injera. Both were amazing, and came as huge portions which we were sad we couldn't take the leftovers since we were heading to the airport after We are hoping to get back to the twin cities again, and if we do, we will definitely return to Erta Ale, which is a gem of Lowertown Saint Paul

Great new place to try out! We came here for lunch and had the vegan platter for 1 which was a good amount of food for 2 people and the spicy lamb dish which was also a good sized portion - we had leftovers to take home! The servers were very friendly and quick, they were present and available without being overbearing. The restaurant itself is a nice set up, lots of space and big windows. Full bar and happy hour options - definitely would recommend this place!

Very nice place to eat. Service is pleasant and the place is clean and open. The Erta Ale special for 3-4 is a good way to try many of the dishes.

The food was very good, the red sauce was spicy and not my favorite, but the green was cilantro dominant and went well with our food. The server we had was kind and informative. We mentioned it was our first time having Ethiopian food and he demonstrated how to eat the food, as funny as that sounds hah, but it was necessary. The ambiance was mildly romantic, I though it was a good amount of items to look at but my girlfriend thought there was too much to look at. Overall, im looking to try this place again. I thoroughly enjoyed. There was also a mistake with a coupon and they honored it even though they weren't aware of it. I appreciate it

Erta Ale Ethiopian offers a great vibe with tasty food and a good overall experience. Definitely worth a visit!

Excellent Vegan platter! The waiter was fast, kind, professional and very helpful. We asked to eat outside because there was a celebration inside and it was a bit too noisy for our taste. The food was delicious and generous! We will definitely come back and I recommend 2000%.

Great experience. I went based on yelp reviews and was not lead astray. The food was very good but I cant say enough about the hospitality. More often than not a restaurant has either good service or good food but not both. Here they had both. We hadn't been there before and the server (maybe owner?) walked us through the menu. We had the sampler for 4-5 people. There were 3 of us (all very hungry) and there were leftovers for another. The whole experience was relaxing, not rushed, and we left feeling like we took a break from the world. I only wish we were hungry enough for dessert & coffee because they looked great.

The food was authentic and tasty, but ridiculously salty. Service was good and the family was lovely.

Mt friends and I had a lovely lunch at Erta Ale (though I don't know how to pronounce the restaurant name or the dishes for that matter) and enjoyed the food as well as the quiet setting. If you're not familiar with Ethiopian cuisine I recommend the vegan platter that has a sampling of many options. There is a lot of lentils and vegetables and some things are spicy but the server can offer guidance. One of the best things is that it isn't so noisy that you can't visit. I've been there more than once and the food is always good with plenty to take home and a comfortable relaxed atmosphere. Really, what more could you want?

We split lamb tibs and a vegan platter. The vegan platter was good but not extraordinary, the tibs were amazing though. Great portions, also the hot tea was really good and spiced with anise or something like that idk. Service was really friendly and quick too. Everything was solid and would recommend especially if in the area already!

I had the Asa gulash, which is a fish-based dish flavored with turmeric, and it was stupendous! Absolutely delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant. The service was friendly and prompt.

What a warm and wonderful experience. Ingredients are obviously fresh and high quality. The textures and flavors really pop, more so than at other similar Ethiopian restaurants. The vegan platter is exceptional. It includes small dollops of spicy sauces that can be used to give a nice kick of additional heat and flavor, rather than hoping the kitchen matches personal heat preferences. Apple cider tea served with natural sugar complements these flavors and is an especially welcome surprise on a chilly evening. Service is friendly and efficient, the room is warm and relaxed, and the soothing and classy music is so much better than blaring TVs or pulsing beats--on my recent visit, Billie Holiday and Chet Baker. A sublime experience.

Really tasty Ethiopian food at reasonable prices and the customer service is amazing. This place is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Minnesota. I recommend this place highly.

Situated within the historic Northern Warehouse in Lowertown Saint Paul, Erta Ale invites you to indulge in an Ethiopian culinary adventure. This noteworthy location, an early 1900s grocery warehouse, is now home to an exquisite dining experience. I had the pleasure of trying their Lega Tibs - a sumptuous concoction of tender beef and tantalizing spices. The balance of flavors is truly remarkable. With a décor that subtly mirrors the spirit of Ethiopia, a friendly service that fosters warmth, and a menu that successfully combines tradition with innovation, Erta Ale offers a captivating dining experience. If you're looking to discover the wealth of Ethiopian cuisine, this restaurant should be at the top of your list.

Awesome place, great food, great atmosphere, great service, very nice people. We went there before the saints game. The pricing is definitely fair for the great quality of food you get. Try the coffee, it's delicious also. It also has a great beer selection.

My husband and I had a wonderful lunch at Erta Ale. The food was outstanding, as was the service. There were some cute tables outside which allowed us to take advantage of the good weather and the people watching as they went to the Saint's baseball game. Both of us highly recommend the vegetarian plate to get a taste of a variety of flavors. We cannot wait to go back.

The food and service was amazing. I highly recommend this place. The music accompanies the meal perfectly.

Erta Ale is located where Tanpopo Noodle Shop and Kyatchi used to reside in the Lowertown area of St. Paul near CHS field. The restaurant itself was quite welcoming and has seating both in and outdoors. We had little difficulty getting a reservation on a Saturday night in the past month. The service was quite attentive and we were visited by the manager a couple of times asking about our experience. We ordered the Awaze Tibs which were succulent, tender and had an appropriate amount of spice. We also ordered the Veggie Platter which was pretty typical of what you would find at other Ethiopian Restaurants in the area. Each of the dishes was served with a large amount of injera which was firm and moist, and was used to enjoyably sop up the meat, vegetables and sauce of the dishes. The group also ordered Ethiopian coffee in a traditional Jebena which we felt was a nice touch. Overall, our experience was quite positive and believe this is clearly one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the Twin Cities.